Garica was part of the successful GB team at the 1988 Olympics

It meant a losing return for former gold medallist Russell Garcia, who was recalled after a four-year absence.

The 33-year-old, who is Britain's most-capped player, failed a random drugs test in 1999 and was subsequently banned for three months.

The women also went down, losing 3-2 to South Africa.

Great Britain were always chasing the game against Spain and it was no surprise when Santiago Freixa fired in low penalty corner shot in the ninth minute to put the Spaniards ahead.

Reading defender Tom Bertram equalised with a set-piece strike of his own in the 20th minute but parity lasted only three minutes as Freixa tormented Cannock defender Craig Parnham before netting his second of the game.

We can't lose sight of our objective which is selection GB coach Tricia Heberle

Just before the interval Victor Sojo was on the end of a slick passing move to make it 3-1.

Despite an improved display in the second half, GB's second goal did not arrive until six minutes from the end when teenager Barry Middleton after good work by Garcia and Niall Stott.

Coach Jason Lee said that he was disappointed with his team's display.

"Though I could find pleasure in our performance in the second half, it is clear that we cannot expect to win unless we try to dominate from the first minute," he said.

In the women's match, South Africa led 1-0 at half-time through Pietie Coetzee's penalty corner goal.

After that lacklustre opening GB stepped up the tempo.

But despite forward Anna Bennett finishing off a good counter-attacking move by latching on to a through-ball from Lucilla Wright, further penalty corner goals either side of her strike put the result beyond them.

Despite the defeat, GB coach Tricia Heberle remained upbeat.

"We can't lose sight of our objective which is selection," she said.

"We need to test some girls out which means there has to be some level of compromise performance-wise."

As well as sampling the facilities they will use at the Olympics. both the men and women are looking to settle their selections for the upcoming Games qualifying events.

The men also face Belgium and Greece, and the women meet Australia and Spain.

Men's squad: S Mason (gk), T Bertram, M Pearn (Reading); J Lewis (gk), R Garcia (Gross Flottbeker); J Collins, D Hall, G Fordham (Guildford); C Parnham, M Johnson, M Jones, B Middleton (Cannock); J Wallis, B Garrard, B Hawes (Surbiton); N Stott (Dundee Wanderers); G Dunlop, G Moodie (Western Wildcats).